Organophilic clay modified with silane compounds

Abstract

Organophilic clays useful for modifying the rheological properties of organic fluids are made from a smectite type clay, a quaternary ammonium compound and an organosilane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An organophilic clay dry powder comprising the reaction product of (a) a smectite type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least about 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay on a 100 percent active basis;   (b) a quaternary ammonium compound having the structure ##STR3##  wherein R 1  is an alkyl group having about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are alkyl groups containing 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, aryl groups and arylalkyl groups containing 7 to about 22 carbon atoms and wherein M is chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, hydroxide or C 1  to C 18  carboxylate; and   (c) an organosilane having the formula:   R.sub.n Si X.sub.(4-n)        wherein n is an integer of 1 to 3, wherein R is an organic radical having a carbon atom directly linked to the silicon atom and wherein X is alkoxy, acryloxy, amino or halogen.   
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in the amount of about 50 to about 150 meqs per 100 grams of clay, 100 percent active basis, and wherein the organosilane is present in the amount of about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent based on the theoretical weight of the reaction product of the clay and the quaternary ammonium compound. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in the amount of about 80 to about 130 meqs and the organosilane is present in the amount of about 1 to about 2.5 weight percent. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R 1  and R 2  of the quaternary compound contain 12 to 22 carbon atoms and R 3  and R 4  are methyl. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 1 wherein R 1  contains 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R 2  is aryl or aryl alkyl and R 3  and R 4  are methyl. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is dimethyl di(hydrogenated tallow) ammonium chloride. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is dimethylbenzyl hydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is a mixture of dimethyl di(hydrogenated tallow) ammonium chloride and dimethylbenzyl hydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the mixture contains equal equivalent amounts of each quaternary ammonium compound. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 1 wherein R of the organosilane is an organic radical containing 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       11. The composition of claim 10 wherein R is alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, arylalkyl, vinyl, allyl, amino-alkyl, aminoaryl and organic radicals having ether, ester or carboxyl groups. 
     
     
       12. The composition of claim 1 wherein n of the organosilane is 1. 
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the organo silane is phenyltriethoxy silane. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 1 which contains up to 25 weight percent, based on the weight of the total composition of hydrogenated castor oil.